Medals presentations in Celebration Plaza under review

VANOC looking at ways to save money but Whistler says idea is not acceptable

Blue prints for Celebration Plaza, currently under construction at Lots 1/9 in Whistler village.

Olympic organizers are considering cancelling the nighttime
medal award celebration ceremonies in Whistler and giving the medals out at
sport venues to save money.

But Whistler’s Mayor Ken Melamed said the community does not
support the idea.

“We know there are challenges but this would be a huge blow to
Whistler,” he said.

The suggestion came up at a closed door council meeting earlier
this month when Whistler’s Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) board
representative, Jim Godfrey, reported back following meetings in Vancouver
around the updated budget, which was adopted in principle last month.

The new VANOC budget will be made public in January.

“That was the first we had heard of it and I think council was
taken aback by the suggestion,” said Melamed.

“(We) pretty clearly gave direction to Mr. Godfrey to go back
to VANOC and suggest that this was not really an acceptable suggestion and we
needed to keep talking about helping VANOC meet its challenges.”

Whistler is the first Winter Olympic Mountain Host venue to
host medal ceremonies. It has planned an $18.5 million party around the music
concerts, shows and celebrations throughout the village and at the Celebration
Plaza, the construction of which is due to be complete in September 2009.

There was considerable controversy about the construction of
the plaza, which saw the clearing of nearly four acres of woodland in the
village. The plaza is slated to cost $14.2 million, with $5 million coming from
Canadian Heritage, $3 million from VANOC, and up to $6.2 million from the RMOW.

The Canadian Minister of State for Sport, Gary Lunn, said no
final decisions had been made yet and that in these tough economic times VANOC
has to look to its bottom line.

“They are looking at all of their options and that is the right
thing to do in today’s economic climate… they have to prepare for the unknown,”
he said.

“The Celebration (Plaza) site in Whistler is going to be an
amazing place whatever role or shape it takes, we are all committed to that.”

Melamed admitted that not having the medals awarded in
Celebration Plaza would likely affect the atmosphere in town and it would also
reduce the number of spectators who might come into the village from the Nordic
venue, 20 kilometres south of Whistler, and the alpine venue at Creekside.

“What we are talking about is that incremental opportunity and
that excitement of sharing that moment with the athletes and bringing the Games
that much closer to everybody, especially for those who can’t make it to the
venues,” said Melamed. He added that this is the first time there has been
tension between the RMOW and VANOC.

“We understand VANOC has a job to do. We want to be good
partners so we need to continue the dialogue and try to find a way to be
respectful of VANOC’s challenges, but at the same time we have to protect the
interests and the expectations of Whistler residents and business people.

“…These are Canada’s Games and if the cuts are too deep then it
reflects badly not just on Whistler and VANOC but on Canada and I don’t think
that is a place where Canadians really want to go.”

VANOC would not address cuts at the Celebration Plaza specifically
but, said Terry Wright, VANOC’s executive vice president of services and Games
operations via e-mail: “All Games time venues and plans are currently under
review, given the economic downturn and the final preparation of the update to
the VANOC business plan.

“Until that review is complete and the business plan is given
final approval and then made public, it would be inappropriate to comment on
specifics.”

Celebration Plaza will be a gated venue and the 8,000
spectators expected nightly will need tickets to gain entry. It has not been
decided if the tickets will be free.

Celebration Plaza will also be the site of the Whistler Olympic
cauldron and the closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games.

Following the Games it will be a public open space surrounded
by institutional and commercial buildings. There will also be a large
children’s play area, tiered seating, a large open grassy area and spaces to
sell local art and cuisine.